...This team was better in all areas than any of fifth-year head coach Red Gendron’s first four teams.

And, depending upon early departures, the nucleus is in place to make a run for the top four in Hockey East next season and the first NCAA tournament berth since the 2012 season. That was also the last time UMaine reached the Hockey East semifinals.

It is important to point out that only two of UMaine’s 18 wins (18-16-4, 10-11-3 in Hockey East) came over teams that finished .500 or better. Those nine teams went a combined 115-184-34. Only Boston University (19-13-4) finished above .500.

The Black Bears were the only team among the bottom eight seeds in the league that didn’t earn at least a tie against one of the top three seeds: Boston College, Northeastern and Providence College.

Joshua Langford@Josh_Langford35Proud to announce my commitment to play D1 college hockey for the University of Maine. I’m extremely blessed to be a part of this organization and I’m very thankful for all the help I’ve gotten along the way. Go Blackbears!

...Langford is 6-5 and is coming off a season during which he posted a 2.31 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage in 18 games.

“Obviously, his size is a great attribute but he is also pretty athletic for a big kid and that’s what makes him so intriguing long term,” said Eric Silverman, the director of hockey operations for the Stars’ Elite program and the head coach of the 16-under team. “He has tremendous size along with athleticism. It’s hard to find a lot of big guys who move as well as he does.